THE CARBOHYDRATES OF THE LEAFY LIVERWORT, PLAGIOCH ILAASPLENIOIDES (L.) DUM

Summary The soluble carbohydrates of both Plagiochila asplenioides var. asplenioides and var. major consist of volemitol and a volemitol derivative, sucrose and a series of sucrosyl-fructans and mannitol. Glucose, fructose and trehalose are present in trace amounts. Quantitatively, volemitol is the single most abundant compound but this is exceeded by total fructan. Starch is only a minor component and the neutral insoluble fraction consists of galactose, arabinose (major components), glucose, xylose and mannose (intermediate quantities) and fucose and rhamnose (minor components). Only starch and sucrose are depleted when tissue is kept in the dark overnight. Results are discussed in relation to the soluble composition of bryophytes in general.